RelaxAway at Half Moon Cay Opens With New Pier
Carnival Corporation has been busy upgrading its private island destination, Half Moon Cay, and today, it has finally opened. The biggest change, and likely the best news for most guests, is that it now has a pier at the north end. That means no more waiting 20 minutes to an hour to get on or off the island. Let’s look at the changes.
Half Moon Cay Transforms to Relaxaway at Half Moon Cay
Part of the transformation is the new name for the island. Previously referred to as Half Moon Cay, it’s now called Relaxaway at Half Moon Cay. While the renaming seems unnecessary, it likely helps guests understand what the island is not. There’s no massive water park, no lazy river, and no zip lines. Relaxaway is about relaxing in nature, not visiting a theme park. You’ll still find the amazing white-sand beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and wildlife that Half Moon Cay was known for, but now it’ll be more accessible and comfortable.
Carnival President Christine Duffy was on hand yesterday along with local leaders and the cruise director from the Carnival Sunrise to cut the ribbon and officially open this new expansion of the island.
New Pier for Carnival Ships
A new pier at the north end of the island is the most highly anticipated change. Previously, guests had to tender on and off the island, a painfully slow process on some days. The new pier can accommodate two of Carnival’s ships. Even better, it can accommodate Carnival’s largest ships, the Excel Class, and will be able to accommodate their upcoming massive Ace Class ships.
So far, Carnival’s largest ships have not been able to visit Half Moon Cay because of how long the tendering process would take.
Carnival’s other brand, Holland America, will continue to visit the island, but its ships will still tender to the old southern dock. Because Holland America’s ships are much smaller, the process is less of an issue.
New Food and Beverage Options
Carnival has introduced new food and beverage options around the island.
Guests can dine at Orchid Beach Grill or Hibiscus Beach Grill, where they can enjoy locally inspired cuisine and beach favorites. The menu is the same at both locations, so just go to whichever is more convenient.
The food is prepared and served by the staff from the ships, so unlike at Celebration Key, where you only get one included meal, the standard lunch offerings are included at Relaxaway at Half Moon Cay. According to Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald, that’s because it’s a private destination, or “out island,” with no local population, allowing Carnival to prepare and serve the food itself.
Carnival has also introduced a few new bars: Luna Tide Beach Bar, Stay Awhile Beach Shack, and Lil’ Tiki Bar. Like before, ship drink packages will not work on the island, but you will use your Sail & Sign card to pay for drinks, so you don’t need cash.
The Whole Shore Is Now Used
Previously, guests were dropped off at the south side of the island and mostly frequented the beaches there, with few people venturing to the northern part. Now that Carnival ships dock at the north end of the island, the entire shore is more accessible.
To make it easier, Carnival offers the Coconut Line Tram Station. This tram visits six different stops across the island. Guests with mobility needs can also use a separate tram to take them from the ship to shore, rather than walking the new pier.
Guests can also walk the scenic Papaya Pathway, which lets them enjoy the natural surroundings as they explore the different parts of the beach. According to Carnival, it takes approximately one hour to walk from the dock to the center stop, which still doesn’t take you all the way to the former southern dock area used by Holland America ships.
Upgraded Seating and Cabanas
There have always been plenty of loungers available on Half Moon Cay, but many were older loungers retired from the cruise ships, and they had no umbrellas. Carnival has upgraded the complimentary loungers and added umbrellas for more shaded options.
They’ve also added new cabana and daybed options for a more premium experience at an additional cost.
Wi-Fi Works on the Island
The Carnival HUB app has been updated to include Relaxaway activities, so you can see what’s going on and what’s currently open. The HUB app is available to all guests. Guests who have purchased a Wi-Fi plan can also use it on the island. As before, cellular service is available on the island, though it may be treated as roaming depending on your mobile plan.
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